Rapid Implementation and Optimisation of DSP Systems on FPGA-Centric Hetrogeneous Platforms

This paper, chosen as a best paper from the 2005 SAMOS Workshop on Computer Systems: describes the for the first time the major Abhainn project for automated system level design of embedded signal processing systems. In particular, this describes four key novelties: novel algorithm modelling techniques for DSP systems, automated implementation realisation, algorithm transformation for system optimisation and automated inter-processor communication. This is applied to two complex systems: a radar and sonar system. In both cases technology which allows non-experts to automatically create low-overhead, high performance embedded signal processing systems is exhibited.

Rates of childhood trauma in a sample of patients with schizophrenia as compared with a sample of patients with non-psychotic psychiatric diagnoses

Despite strong evidence of high rates of childhood and adult trauma in schizophrenia, the area remains under-researched. Our objectives in the study were first, to examine the rates of exposure to childhood, adult and lifetime (child plus adult) trauma in a population with schizophrenia and a population with non-psychotic psychiatric diagnoses and second, to examine the effect of trauma on the symptoms of schizophrenia. Two groups, those with schizophrenia (n = 40), and those with a non-psychotic diagnosis (n = 30), were recruited. Data were collected for demographic, psychiatric and trauma histories for all participants and on psychosocial functioning and psychiatric symptomatology for the patients with schizophrenia. Childhood exposure to trauma was significantly more common in the schizophrenia group (t = 5.196, df = 68, p <0.001, Eta squared = 0.28), with the strongest relationship being childhood physical assault. In the schizophrenia group a history of trauma was significantly related to poor communication skills (r = -0.529, p <0.001) and depressive symptoms (r = 0.443, p = 0.004). Evidence that childhood exposure to trauma is more common in a population with schizophrenia is consistent with other studies and raises the possibility that such trauma is of etiological importance. Further research is required to replicate those findings, to elucidate possible pathways by which the experience of trauma may contribute to the development of schizophrenia, and to explore the relationship between a history of childhood trauma and the experience of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.